San Diego has a playful new family member.

Animal care staff are preparing Shadow the grey wolf pup for his new role as an animal ambassador.

He's two months old and right now he's in a 30-day preventative quarantine process to protect him and the animals he'll live with from potential illness.

Animal care staff members are introducing Shadow to various smells and sights, which will help prepare him for his new role as an animal ambassador. Keepers working with Shadow will give him items such as ficus browse to smell and chew, ice cubes to chase around or cardboard boxes to climb on. The young wolf can also see guests visiting him at the nursery, which keepers say is also beneficial.


Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego includes onsite wildlife conservation efforts representing both plants and animals.
(Source)